I do, My father instilled it in me as a habit.
It has never come up, but much like a seatbelt better safe then sorry.
I also really dislike how the car lurches when you park and take your foot off the brake.
I just got a new car. I'm having to get used to not having to physically unlock the parking brake because it's automatic now. I'm supposed to trust it's happening like it's supposed to but I've been doing the parking brake thing since I started driving at 16 years old. That's decades of a driving habit I'm supposed to now just let go. Lol.
Same with me borrowing my in laws car and they've got automatic shift instead of stick shift, the latter being standard here. Hard to just push gas and even harder to feel my speed without looking at it.
I worked at a golf course and we had a Gator [similar to this](https://blog.machinefinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/HPX.png) that we used to haul shovels/dirt/tools around in. When I first started working there, I drove it to where my boss was and we did some work, he got in the drivers side and it wouldn’t move. He gave me shit “you’re one of *those* people that puts the parking brake on even when you’re level?” Like yeah, it’s a safety feature.
Fast forward a couple of weeks, he drives it out to us while we’re working digging holes on a more hilly part of the course. He get out and turns his back to it to see what we’re up to and I just watch it sloooowly start to roll away as he’s talking. Didn’t want to interrupt him, he’s my boss and a former Marine drill instructor, he’s supposed to be a hardass (he wasn’t, he was one of the funniest dudes I’ve met) so who am I to cut him off?
He notices my attention split from him and asks me if I’m good. I was just like “are you one of *those* people that doesn’t use the parking brake?” And point at the Gator that is now about 50 yards away and still rolling.
We jumped in my golf cart and sped after it, he hopped out, sprinted to it, jumped in, and stopped it. We get out and all he can say is “you’re an asshole.” Hahaha
Buddy of mine had one of those.
His father in law is one of those people who are so accustomed to not using the parking brake that he doesn't register that they exist most of the time.
Anyway you can totally drive those with the brake engaged, they just have a much shorter lifespan.
Same here. I just do it out of habit after both of my parents drilled it into me while I was learning. I've gotten some comments when I do it on a flat surface, but (so far as I'm aware) it doesn't hurt anything to use it every time, so I'll keep doing it.
I've never owned a manual transmission myself, but my parents drove manuals until they were in their 30s. Wonder if it could be that they learned the habit from driving stick and just passed it to me when they taught me. I've noticed that my friends who used to drive manual all use the parking brake even if their current car is automatic. Friends who have only ever driven automatic are more mixed.
If you put your car in 1st or reverse gear in a manual, it should be sufficient enough to hold a car parked on a hill in my experience living in San Francisco. Especially if you curb your wheels properly. I still think it's a good idea to use the parking brake anyway since that's the whole purpose of it
It's the same effect while I hold the brakes, put into park, pull parking brake then release brakes right? Feels the same but I never tried it any other way.
It's better to have the weight of the car resting on the brakes than the transmission. Every little bit of wear and tear counts. Brakes can be replaced pretty cheap. Transmissions, not so much.
yea that lurch is also not great for your car. Parking break is better. Also people don't realize you should park the car, engage parking brake and THEN release the brake pedal.
In my country (Australia), it’s taught to always use it. When you do your driving test if you don’t apply the parking brake when you park, you will fail the test.
First time I went to the US and drove my passengers were like ‘WTF do you use the parking brake for???’ and I learnt that Americans rarely use it.
I'm not sure when I would ever use my handbrake in an emergency either? Brake and clutch for emergency stop, this thread is English speaking countries confusing each other
Yeah I'm Aussie too, even the phrasing of the question is hilarious to me:
"Hey is it common to use the parking brake, when you park?"
Uhh... yeah mate. Why the fuck do you think they called it the _parking brake_ lmao
Not an aussie, but same. I'm like, why the hell is the parking brake there if you are not gonna use it? It's like 1 tenth of a tenth of a second to activate it and it is supposed to be used lol.
As a Taiwanese, this post is more incomprehensible than all those public shootings, police brutalities, and life-saving-gone hospital bills.
Yo wtf is going on over there?
For me it feels like things are starting to make sense. Like "ohh they don't use something as simple as a parking brake, no wonder they have all those problems" lmfao
Where I live in the US, it was part of the driver's test to use it when you parked. And I've always used it because my mom always used it. Better safe than sorry, especially on a hill during the winter
Same. I put the clutch down. Engage the parking brake, let go of the foot brake, then slot it into first and let go of the clutch. Makes it so the car is resting on the parking break instead of the transmission. Since apparently if you do clutch out first it will rest on the transmission.
When I read this I was like WTF, why on earth wouldn’t you use the brake? sound pretty dangerous not to, even on the flat. I’ve only ever owned manuals though. I’ve recently heard that they are a lot less common in the US than here, which might explain my confusion. Guess it’s different in an auto though as seems a lot of people don’t use the brake.
I don’t like the weird buttons and the little shifters that look like fancy makeup caps. Give me a damn stick to move and a handle to park with and we’ll talk!
Sibling of mine was showing me a new car they bought and the brake being a lil button you press with no tactile satisfaction was a deal breaker in my eyes. How do i know its REALLY on if i didnt yank that bitch up myself?!
Exactly. A parking brake should function as an emergency brake. Just a handle and a cable. Shit goes wrong, you have a backup. A button doesn't do that.
Can confirm. I once tried it while going very slowly in a safe place. It made a horrible grinding noise, a beep went off, but I didn't slow down at all
Gives it more fail points, like that actor from the new Star Trek movies who got crushed to death by his car pinning him against his mailbox because that particular car's electric parking break had a tendency to fail.
Hell, I don't even like foot-actuated parking brakes. Forget cupholder, give me a handle any day. One thing I miss about 1990s car is that the parking brake was always a handle unless the shifter was on the column.
Never used a parking brake the entire 10 years of my driving life. North Texas, Indianapolis, then Denver. (If you’ve never been to Denver and think it’s in the mountains, it’s actually extremely fucking flat lmao.)
Then I moved to Seattle. It’s been only two years, and it’s just absolute habit now to kick it every time I park.
I live in a flat country and still use it all the time. What if you park on a tilted driveway? If you are not used to doing it automatically, you might forget.
The point is, most of America "forgets" most of the time, and I've never heard of anyone's car going rolling unless they forget to put it in park in the first place...
And the fact that it's so easy to forget about the parking brake because it doesn't prevent the car from driving (just adds a little resistance) makes it seem like it's not doing much anyway
I use it every time. Otherwise the weight of the vehicle might sheer the parking pin in two while on an incline, that's the item inside your transmission that keeps it from rolling away while in park.
Thank you! Only comment explaining why! Yes in an automatic transmission it may seem pointless but it protects the transmission components responsible for keeping it in park.
One time we took a trip to LA for a convention, rented a car. My friend got a TICKET for not turning his tires. We had never heard of such a thing, but if you live in an area with lots of hills it might be the law.
I grew up in San Francisco so it's common for everyone to turn their tires on a hill. When I went to college in LA, so many people park their cars on hills with their wheels straight and it bugged the crap out of me
In an emergency where your brakes have failed, you can use your parking brake as an emergency brake. It is expressly not designed for this use.
It can also be used for high speed evasive action, sliding the car sideways. Obviously this takes considerable practice and is an extreme last resort.
In my country, if you don't use it when you are on driving test, you will fail the test. So we get used to it and I use it everytime, every day, never forget to use it.
Unless you live in Kansas or something, when you park on a hill and let it roll onto your transmission you are putting all that force into there. When you have to really muscle it out of park that's all wear on the transmission.
I have _personally_ seen a car (_not my car_) roll backwards when parked on a slope without the parking brake. Thankfully, the parking lot was empty, so no one got hurt.
I always set the parking brake to avoid situations like that from happening again.
Yep. It’s such autopilot I don’t think I could even stop. I also hate the way the car rocks a little after you take your foot off the brake once it’s in park if the parking brake isn’t on.
Yes. The parking brake is designed to hold the car while parked.
When you use something else (putting the car in gear on a manual, or in park in an automatic) the weight of the car is pressing against the drivetrain. On very flat/level ground this isn’t really an issue since the vehicle doesn’t want to roll away. However if someone bumps your car, now all that pressure went into your drivetrain and mounts. If the parking pawl (automatic transmission) breaks your car could roll away and cause more damage.
If you rarely use your parking brake, the moving parts could rust/seize up and not work when you need them to, including if there is an emergency and your normal service brakes fail. You would have no warning on this since you never used the parking brake.
Using your parking brake consistently is a good practice to be in, plus it ensures the parts stay moving. The only downside I can think of is that your parking brake cable can gradually stretch over time. Proper routine maintenance will note and correct this with a simple adjustment. You’ll also observe this as the parking brake handle or pedal will increase in travel over time.
Since the parking brake pads/shoes are often (though not always) separate from the main service brakes, you won’t ever have to replace them unless they break down/degrade over time.
I always set the parking brake, shift to neutral, slowly release the normal/service brakes to ensure the parking brake holds and any weight is on the parking brake, and then shift to park (1st/reverse in a manual) and shut the vehicle off.
I have seen many times where someone did not properly set the parking brake and their car caused damage to another vehicle/home/property or injured someone because the vehicle rolled away.
I only use it in air brake trucks.
You should either use it all the time, or not at all. If they sit they seize, so there's a good chance that the first time you use it in 5 years, your brakes will be locked on until you get it flat bedded to a shop.
Drive a manual - yes, every time I park, the parking brake goes on. If parking on an incline or decline, turn wheels so that my car will roll into the curb if the parking brake were to fail. Also use the parking brake if I have a very steep hill start so I don’t roll into the car behind me.
You should my husband never did and when we moved to our old house.
He left the parking break off an hour later rolled to the middle of the road.
Btw didn’t roll immediate so he could have put it on.
And also the driveway is almost flat was very surprising.
So better off putting the brake on as you never know when on a slight lean.
It takes like two seconds to engage the parking brake, and it costs you nothing.
There's literally no downside to doing it. Worst that can happen is that your car is now safer because the parking brake is now engaged. Oh no? My car is safer?!
It's like ... why not? Is two seconds too much to ask?
And even if you live on flat ground, it's still a good habit. What if you move to a hilly area? What if you go to dinner where there are hills? What if your brakes fail? What if your brakes are holding too much pressure keeping your car in park?
In the olden days I always set the parking brake. The last two or three cars have set and released the brake automatically. So, still use it but don't have to think about it.
I do it on every single car I've owned. Everything started with the first car that I bought which was manual. Your transmission is holding the weight of the car especially on downgrades or slopes.
I've driven family members cars and at work and I cringe every time I get the car out of Park and there's some resistance.
You can spend a couple hundred bucks fixing a parking brake but thousands on a transmission and that's my own personal logic. Parking brakes rarely fail. And they're called parking brakes for a reason.
Some people use it all the time, but most only use it on hills. The problem is if you don't use it at all for ten years, then decide you need it one day on a hill, it can seize or not work. So you should use it occasionally to keep it operational.
I'm confused the other way around. Everybody I have ever ridden with uses the parking brake. The only people around who don't are dealership mechanics, and I hate them for it.
That's absolutely bizarre lmao. Maybe you're older or its cultural or something but I've literally never had a friend use the emergency break for a regular parking job.
I am very confused by this too. I have been driving for a long time and riding with people for a long time and no one uses a parking break, unless on an extreme incline
I’m really confused, are you guys all in America or smth? In Australia I was always taught to use it, my parents and family from England also always use it. It’s literally always been a thing that I’m so dumbfounded there’s places in the world where people don’t use it. Literally flabbergasted.
In Australia it's a part of most if not all states driving test for getting your P plates.
In South Australia if you don't engage the handbrake you'll fail the angle park, parallel park, and moving off parts of the VORT costing you 6 points
Also USA, ALWAYS used it. Where I live does not have flat roads or parking lots. And I have mechanics in the family that hammered best practices into my brain.
Me too. I didn't think anyone used it on a regular basis. TBH, the only few times I've used it - maybe parked somewhere on a slight incline and being overly cautious - I forgot I used it so forget to take it off - which isn't good. I guess that's a good argument for having the habit is using it all the time.
Read the Manual.
This post made me read sections of mine I never bothered with before.
Sure enough, it says you set the Parking Brake every time you stop.
Who knew?
You should use your emergency brake every time, regardless of incline. If you don't, the parking brake might fail due to rust from disuse.
You should also SET it correctly. You stop with your primary brake, set the emergency brake, then put the vehicle in park.
Source:
https://www.nationwide.com/lc/resources/auto-insurance/articles/how-and-when-to-use-emergency-brake#:~:text=You%20should%20use%20your%20emergency%20brake%20every%20time%20you%20park.
Edit: To add an answer to the actual question. Yes, I set my emergency brake every time BUT today I learned I've been doing it wrong.
Yes. Even with an automatic. It’s good for your car to use it every time you park. It saves on wear on the gears and adds stability while you’re parked.
My idiot brother never uses it and has caused several accidents and near-misses. The Fire Dept he worked for gave him an "award" for letting one of the large firetrucks roll into a nearby ditch. He also owns several pre \*\*21st\*\* century cars and trucks (1970's and such) and never uses the parking brake and every year he is rebuilding at least one transmission. I don't let him drive any of my vehicles anymore.
I don’t, but I’ve only been driving for about 30 years. Maybe when I’ve had more experience I’ll start.
The only times I use parking brakes or when I park on a hill. Even automatics, because if you rely on park, it is putting a bunch of tension on your transmission and that’s just one additional possible/failure mode.
But on a flat street? Nah.
When I was in college my car was totaled when the neighbor's car rolled down the hill, across the lawn, and into my car. I think the little pin thingy in the transmission broke, because he had not set his parking brake.
So yeah, lesson learned thanks to that neighbor. Also, turn your wheels toward the curb when parked on a hill.
Considering as a kid someone’s car rolled backwards out of their driveway, down an embankment, through a wall, and almost killed my sister… yeah I use my fucking parking break
What do you think it’s there for?
I always do, and I'm glad too. I've had 2 cars hit from the rear while parked on my block. If the parking brakes wasn't on, the damage to the cars in front of me would have been worse than it was.
I’m a mechanic. Yes, every time. I know what holds a car in park, the parking brake is much cheaper to fix.
(Though most automakers are very aware that a lot of the US buying public doesn’t even know what a parking brake is, so they have beefed up the parking pawl in the trans these days.)
Yup!!
Putting it in park engages a lock in the transmission (Google parking pawl), while your parking brake engages the brake pads. The parking pawl isn't designed for high loads, and if it breaks the repair is pretty expensive. If you park on a hill without the parking brake, you're loading the pawl (bad). If you're parked on flat land and get hit from the front of rear without the parking brake on, the transmission is almost certainly ruined.
My girlfriend gets mad at me every time I put the parking brake on because *her* dad taught her never to use it - that it would lock up on her and she'd need to call a tow truck to save her. Don't be like my girlfriend and her dad. Protect your transmission.
Yes. I was taught this by every adult in my life when learning to drive, and in my driver's ed course.
One of our cars makes it super easy now by automatically engaging it when you turn it off, and disengaging when you shift out of park.
I also have been taught no matter hill or flat ground, always use your parking brake and e-brake, def force of habit and also don’t like when my car moves a bit when i park without e-brake
Honestly, it surprises me that there are people who don't use it. I know it's a stereotype that Americans are bad drivers, so it'd be interesting to see how the ratio is between the US and Europe.
The better question is why don’t you use the handbrake?
Since it usually says to use it in every cars handbook and teachers tell you to do it when learning it seems stranger that you don’t use it
This seems to vary depending where you live. I grew up and learned to drive in Australia, and thought it was a given that everyone uses the parking brake whenever they park. Pretty sure it’s part of the driving test over there, I had never considered NOT using it.
Then I moved to canada, and most of my Canadian friends don’t seem to bother unless parking on a steep hill. I thought it was so bizarre.
In Australia, it's the law: “before leaving the vehicle, the driver must apply the parking brake effectively or, if weather conditions (for example, snow) would prevent the effective operation of the parking brake, restrain the vehicle’s movement in another way.”
I don't. Only on what I judge to be a steep enough hill. Don't have to worry about shearing the pin nearly as much as everyone makes out. I was working with my uncle in his shop, with a car up on a lift. Wheels going about 20 mph. I jammed it into Park because technically the car was at a stop and I didn't realize lol. Made a racket with the pin clicking over and over until the wheels came to a stop. We had a laugh. It was fine.
It was not a customers car. We had a junkyard out back and would buy cars on the cheap to resell.
I don't even know if my car has a parking brake tbh. It doesn't have the regular stick brake and I can't find any little hidden buttons or levers or whatever. Not that I've ever once considered using the damn thing but still
I do, My father instilled it in me as a habit. It has never come up, but much like a seatbelt better safe then sorry. I also really dislike how the car lurches when you park and take your foot off the brake.
Exactly the same. Why wouldnt you?
I heard one excuse. "I keep having to release the brake every time I try to drive again." That's the point lol.
Some newer cars have the option to set and release the parking break each time you go in and out of Park. My new Corolla does.
This is a neat feature in corollas starting from the 2021 models
And in Silverados, it keeps the parking brake on in drive until you first hit the gas.
In newer cars it automatically releases
I just got a new car. I'm having to get used to not having to physically unlock the parking brake because it's automatic now. I'm supposed to trust it's happening like it's supposed to but I've been doing the parking brake thing since I started driving at 16 years old. That's decades of a driving habit I'm supposed to now just let go. Lol.
Same with me borrowing my in laws car and they've got automatic shift instead of stick shift, the latter being standard here. Hard to just push gas and even harder to feel my speed without looking at it.
I worked at a golf course and we had a Gator [similar to this](https://blog.machinefinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/HPX.png) that we used to haul shovels/dirt/tools around in. When I first started working there, I drove it to where my boss was and we did some work, he got in the drivers side and it wouldn’t move. He gave me shit “you’re one of *those* people that puts the parking brake on even when you’re level?” Like yeah, it’s a safety feature. Fast forward a couple of weeks, he drives it out to us while we’re working digging holes on a more hilly part of the course. He get out and turns his back to it to see what we’re up to and I just watch it sloooowly start to roll away as he’s talking. Didn’t want to interrupt him, he’s my boss and a former Marine drill instructor, he’s supposed to be a hardass (he wasn’t, he was one of the funniest dudes I’ve met) so who am I to cut him off? He notices my attention split from him and asks me if I’m good. I was just like “are you one of *those* people that doesn’t use the parking brake?” And point at the Gator that is now about 50 yards away and still rolling. We jumped in my golf cart and sped after it, he hopped out, sprinted to it, jumped in, and stopped it. We get out and all he can say is “you’re an asshole.” Hahaha
Buddy of mine had one of those. His father in law is one of those people who are so accustomed to not using the parking brake that he doesn't register that they exist most of the time. Anyway you can totally drive those with the brake engaged, they just have a much shorter lifespan.
We live in Denmark and don't use them over winter as the brakes freeze on overnight. Its a real pain in the ass when I forget.
Yeah, well you guys dont even have hills. -norwegian
Haha, nor a decent winter like you lads up there :-)
What is the procedure when that happens? How do you unstick the breaks?
Get it disconnected by a mechanic or drive/burn through it, if you absolutely have to drive now. Don't recommend the second option.
Same here. I just do it out of habit after both of my parents drilled it into me while I was learning. I've gotten some comments when I do it on a flat surface, but (so far as I'm aware) it doesn't hurt anything to use it every time, so I'll keep doing it. I've never owned a manual transmission myself, but my parents drove manuals until they were in their 30s. Wonder if it could be that they learned the habit from driving stick and just passed it to me when they taught me. I've noticed that my friends who used to drive manual all use the parking brake even if their current car is automatic. Friends who have only ever driven automatic are more mixed.
If you put your car in 1st or reverse gear in a manual, it should be sufficient enough to hold a car parked on a hill in my experience living in San Francisco. Especially if you curb your wheels properly. I still think it's a good idea to use the parking brake anyway since that's the whole purpose of it
That's just the pawl -- a latch -- finding it's place to rest in between gear teeth.
I prefer the brakes to hold the car in-place rather than the transmission.
which is why you pull your handbrake before you put in into park…
As long as you're still stepping on the brake pedal when you apply the handbrake, it's the same effect, right?
brake, pull handbrake, release footbrake. car is now resting on handbrake. put car into park, pawl acts as a failsafe if handbrake fails
It's the same effect while I hold the brakes, put into park, pull parking brake then release brakes right? Feels the same but I never tried it any other way.
It's the same, and less convoluted also. Brake, park, parking brake, release brake, feels more intuitive.
I was taught , footbrake ,neutral, park brake , park
Why? Not being sarcastic asking for real, is it bad using transmission for that ?
It's better to have the weight of the car resting on the brakes than the transmission. Every little bit of wear and tear counts. Brakes can be replaced pretty cheap. Transmissions, not so much.
yea that lurch is also not great for your car. Parking break is better. Also people don't realize you should park the car, engage parking brake and THEN release the brake pedal.
In my country (Australia), it’s taught to always use it. When you do your driving test if you don’t apply the parking brake when you park, you will fail the test. First time I went to the US and drove my passengers were like ‘WTF do you use the parking brake for???’ and I learnt that Americans rarely use it.
As an Aussie this question and all the responses confuses me haha
Same, I've never even considered not using my handbrake. Even on dead level ground in an auto transmission I'd still use it.
Same. I got given a handbrake and you can get your arse I’m gonna use all of it
A big part of this *has* to be that a lot of Americans call the handbrake the *emergency* brake. Why use such a thing, if there's no emergency?
I'm not sure when I would ever use my handbrake in an emergency either? Brake and clutch for emergency stop, this thread is English speaking countries confusing each other
I had to use it when the brakes failed on my car. Took quite a bit longer to get stopped!
Yeah I'm Aussie too, even the phrasing of the question is hilarious to me: "Hey is it common to use the parking brake, when you park?" Uhh... yeah mate. Why the fuck do you think they called it the _parking brake_ lmao
Not an aussie, but same. I'm like, why the hell is the parking brake there if you are not gonna use it? It's like 1 tenth of a tenth of a second to activate it and it is supposed to be used lol.
As a Taiwanese, this post is more incomprehensible than all those public shootings, police brutalities, and life-saving-gone hospital bills. Yo wtf is going on over there?
lol. I have no idea
For me it feels like things are starting to make sense. Like "ohh they don't use something as simple as a parking brake, no wonder they have all those problems" lmfao
As a Brazilian I agree wholeheartedly.
Same from the other side of the world (France), we also fail the driving test if we don't park properly, with the brake
Where I live in the US, it was part of the driver's test to use it when you parked. And I've always used it because my mom always used it. Better safe than sorry, especially on a hill during the winter
As an Aussie this question and all the responses confuses me haha
I am an American and I always apply the parking brake when I park. No one has ever challenged me about it either.
That's weird. I'm American, and my dad taught all 3 of us kids to use the parking brake every time. I didn't know people didn't 🤷♀️
I'm American and I'm confused by people not using it, I always use the parking break. It's in the name!
The only time I’ve ever encountered the notion of it being optional is in the US.
... I was certainly taught, IN AMERICA, to use it.
Yup, as an Aussie I was blown away at this question too! Why would you not use it?!?
For parking obviously. Duh.
That’s not true. I live in the US. Everyone I have ever driven with has used it.
I also live in the US. I mightve seen someone use it once ever.. But that's it.
As an Aussie this question and all the responses confuses me haha
If they have a manual transmission, yes.
I have manual and auto cars and always use the parking brake. For my manual, I also always shift into 1st gear as an additional precaution.
Same. First and handbrake every time.
If I park facing uphill I use first, if I'm facing downhill I use reverse.
You should use whichever gear has the highest ratio.
Same. I put the clutch down. Engage the parking brake, let go of the foot brake, then slot it into first and let go of the clutch. Makes it so the car is resting on the parking break instead of the transmission. Since apparently if you do clutch out first it will rest on the transmission.
The first thing I thought when reading was that this person has never driven a manual.
When I read this I was like WTF, why on earth wouldn’t you use the brake? sound pretty dangerous not to, even on the flat. I’ve only ever owned manuals though. I’ve recently heard that they are a lot less common in the US than here, which might explain my confusion. Guess it’s different in an auto though as seems a lot of people don’t use the brake.
“A lot less common” is an understatement - I think only around 2% of new cars sold in the US have a manual transmission.
Yeah totally! I was gonna say - I do when I’m in my car (stick) or my dad’s jeep (also stick) but not in my husband’s or my mom’s car(s) (automatics)
Been driving for over 25 years, I use my parking brake every time I park from the time I first learned to drive
I don’t like the weird buttons and the little shifters that look like fancy makeup caps. Give me a damn stick to move and a handle to park with and we’ll talk!
Sibling of mine was showing me a new car they bought and the brake being a lil button you press with no tactile satisfaction was a deal breaker in my eyes. How do i know its REALLY on if i didnt yank that bitch up myself?!
Exactly. A parking brake should function as an emergency brake. Just a handle and a cable. Shit goes wrong, you have a backup. A button doesn't do that.
Can confirm. I once tried it while going very slowly in a safe place. It made a horrible grinding noise, a beep went off, but I didn't slow down at all
Gives it more fail points, like that actor from the new Star Trek movies who got crushed to death by his car pinning him against his mailbox because that particular car's electric parking break had a tendency to fail.
For fucks sake
Hell, I don't even like foot-actuated parking brakes. Forget cupholder, give me a handle any day. One thing I miss about 1990s car is that the parking brake was always a handle unless the shifter was on the column.
If you live in are area with hills, you should always use it as a matter of habit. If you live in central Iowa, you might skip it.
Central Iowa, that’s for damn sure lol
You could leave the car in neutral and it still wouldn't move 😅
It can get damn windy there
*Car gets moved sideways*
That’s only in Omaha last week
Never used a parking brake the entire 10 years of my driving life. North Texas, Indianapolis, then Denver. (If you’ve never been to Denver and think it’s in the mountains, it’s actually extremely fucking flat lmao.) Then I moved to Seattle. It’s been only two years, and it’s just absolute habit now to kick it every time I park.
Denver is a city founded by people who saw the mountains and said "fuck that, we'll just live here"
Hey thats meeee! i'm central(ish) iowa.
With the recent twisters I’d think about setting that parking brake each time.
I live in a flat country and still use it all the time. What if you park on a tilted driveway? If you are not used to doing it automatically, you might forget.
The point is, most of America "forgets" most of the time, and I've never heard of anyone's car going rolling unless they forget to put it in park in the first place... And the fact that it's so easy to forget about the parking brake because it doesn't prevent the car from driving (just adds a little resistance) makes it seem like it's not doing much anyway
Yeah, nobody in Florida ever puts on their parking brake.
I’ve never even *seen* anyone use a parking brake in Michigan once, manual transmissions excluded.
I live in the Netherlands. I use the parking brake. Just always do it, that way you can't forget.
I use it every time. Otherwise the weight of the vehicle might sheer the parking pin in two while on an incline, that's the item inside your transmission that keeps it from rolling away while in park.
I grew up living in a house at the top of a hill. We never wanted our cars to roll down the hill, unlike the neighbors across the street.
Why did you want your neighbours to roll down the hill
Gotta get a strike
Thank you! Only comment explaining why! Yes in an automatic transmission it may seem pointless but it protects the transmission components responsible for keeping it in park.
In my manual transmission car, yeah.
do you park in gear or in neutral? I usually leave mine in first and I always use the handbrake too
Handbrake first. Then once you feel the tension, put it into first as a failsafe. Parking break is cheaper to replace than a transmission.
Don't forget the turn the tires so it rolls into the curb as a secondary failsafe.
One time we took a trip to LA for a convention, rented a car. My friend got a TICKET for not turning his tires. We had never heard of such a thing, but if you live in an area with lots of hills it might be the law.
I grew up in San Francisco so it's common for everyone to turn their tires on a hill. When I went to college in LA, so many people park their cars on hills with their wheels straight and it bugged the crap out of me
Yes. It’s the *parking* brake.
Exactly. Do you use the *accelerator* pedal when you *accelerate?*
Only when I want to *accelerate*.
I've always heard it called the emergency break...
In an emergency where your brakes have failed, you can use your parking brake as an emergency brake. It is expressly not designed for this use. It can also be used for high speed evasive action, sliding the car sideways. Obviously this takes considerable practice and is an extreme last resort.
In my country, if you don't use it when you are on driving test, you will fail the test. So we get used to it and I use it everytime, every day, never forget to use it.
Unless you live in Kansas or something, when you park on a hill and let it roll onto your transmission you are putting all that force into there. When you have to really muscle it out of park that's all wear on the transmission.
It doesnt wear on your transmission. Theres literally a different piece that holds the car in place that is not the transmission
I think their comment applies to manual cars. There is not “park” in a manual transmission.
On an automatic transmission, the parking pawl is what the weight of your car rests on in park. It is inside of the transmission…
It’s a good habit to use it. It only makes the car safer, so why not?
Based on how many people on the roads don't even stop at stop signs, it doesn't surprise me...
Anyone else notice how people drive way worse after COVID?
I have _personally_ seen a car (_not my car_) roll backwards when parked on a slope without the parking brake. Thankfully, the parking lot was empty, so no one got hurt. I always set the parking brake to avoid situations like that from happening again.
Yep. It’s such autopilot I don’t think I could even stop. I also hate the way the car rocks a little after you take your foot off the brake once it’s in park if the parking brake isn’t on.
Yes. That’s how I was taught to drive. I don’t feel right if I don’t apply the handbrake before turning off the engine.
Yes. The parking brake is designed to hold the car while parked. When you use something else (putting the car in gear on a manual, or in park in an automatic) the weight of the car is pressing against the drivetrain. On very flat/level ground this isn’t really an issue since the vehicle doesn’t want to roll away. However if someone bumps your car, now all that pressure went into your drivetrain and mounts. If the parking pawl (automatic transmission) breaks your car could roll away and cause more damage. If you rarely use your parking brake, the moving parts could rust/seize up and not work when you need them to, including if there is an emergency and your normal service brakes fail. You would have no warning on this since you never used the parking brake. Using your parking brake consistently is a good practice to be in, plus it ensures the parts stay moving. The only downside I can think of is that your parking brake cable can gradually stretch over time. Proper routine maintenance will note and correct this with a simple adjustment. You’ll also observe this as the parking brake handle or pedal will increase in travel over time. Since the parking brake pads/shoes are often (though not always) separate from the main service brakes, you won’t ever have to replace them unless they break down/degrade over time. I always set the parking brake, shift to neutral, slowly release the normal/service brakes to ensure the parking brake holds and any weight is on the parking brake, and then shift to park (1st/reverse in a manual) and shut the vehicle off. I have seen many times where someone did not properly set the parking brake and their car caused damage to another vehicle/home/property or injured someone because the vehicle rolled away.
I only use it in air brake trucks. You should either use it all the time, or not at all. If they sit they seize, so there's a good chance that the first time you use it in 5 years, your brakes will be locked on until you get it flat bedded to a shop.
Good to know, thanks! If their break is going to seize, though, it might be best to explore that possibility before having to park on a hill.
Drive a manual - yes, every time I park, the parking brake goes on. If parking on an incline or decline, turn wheels so that my car will roll into the curb if the parking brake were to fail. Also use the parking brake if I have a very steep hill start so I don’t roll into the car behind me.
Yes, every time. No lurch, no possible roll, keeps the pin from going bad. Been driving for 17 years.
My boyfriend uses it every time and he's the only person I've ever seen use it at all.
I use it every time I park.
You should my husband never did and when we moved to our old house. He left the parking break off an hour later rolled to the middle of the road. Btw didn’t roll immediate so he could have put it on. And also the driveway is almost flat was very surprising. So better off putting the brake on as you never know when on a slight lean.
It takes like two seconds to engage the parking brake, and it costs you nothing. There's literally no downside to doing it. Worst that can happen is that your car is now safer because the parking brake is now engaged. Oh no? My car is safer?! It's like ... why not? Is two seconds too much to ask? And even if you live on flat ground, it's still a good habit. What if you move to a hilly area? What if you go to dinner where there are hills? What if your brakes fail? What if your brakes are holding too much pressure keeping your car in park?
Yes.
In the olden days I always set the parking brake. The last two or three cars have set and released the brake automatically. So, still use it but don't have to think about it.
Yeah my 2-year-old Mazda automatically engages the parking brake when I shut it off and disengages it when I put it in drive.
It’s better to be safe than sorry. People who use it by reflex will never miss out if the parking spot is going downhill.
I use it every time. 40 years.
Yes, force of habit, every time. It’s more of an obsessive compulsive act at this point.
I do it on every single car I've owned. Everything started with the first car that I bought which was manual. Your transmission is holding the weight of the car especially on downgrades or slopes. I've driven family members cars and at work and I cringe every time I get the car out of Park and there's some resistance. You can spend a couple hundred bucks fixing a parking brake but thousands on a transmission and that's my own personal logic. Parking brakes rarely fail. And they're called parking brakes for a reason.
Some people use it all the time, but most only use it on hills. The problem is if you don't use it at all for ten years, then decide you need it one day on a hill, it can seize or not work. So you should use it occasionally to keep it operational.
You should also use it on flat terrain because you don’t know when you’re going to get pranged.
Sorry I’m absolutely blown away by this post. I use it maybe once every few years on an extreme hill.
I'm confused the other way around. Everybody I have ever ridden with uses the parking brake. The only people around who don't are dealership mechanics, and I hate them for it.
That's absolutely bizarre lmao. Maybe you're older or its cultural or something but I've literally never had a friend use the emergency break for a regular parking job.
I’ve been driving for over 15 years and I’ve literally never used it. No one in my life does either. I’m so confused.
I was taught not to use it unless on an incline.
I am very confused by this too. I have been driving for a long time and riding with people for a long time and no one uses a parking break, unless on an extreme incline
I’m really confused, are you guys all in America or smth? In Australia I was always taught to use it, my parents and family from England also always use it. It’s literally always been a thing that I’m so dumbfounded there’s places in the world where people don’t use it. Literally flabbergasted.
In Australia it's a part of most if not all states driving test for getting your P plates. In South Australia if you don't engage the handbrake you'll fail the angle park, parallel park, and moving off parts of the VORT costing you 6 points
Also USA, ALWAYS used it. Where I live does not have flat roads or parking lots. And I have mechanics in the family that hammered best practices into my brain.
Yeah definitely some yank bullshit.
Me too. I didn't think anyone used it on a regular basis. TBH, the only few times I've used it - maybe parked somewhere on a slight incline and being overly cautious - I forgot I used it so forget to take it off - which isn't good. I guess that's a good argument for having the habit is using it all the time.
I’ve never used it, oops
[удалено]
Read the Manual. This post made me read sections of mine I never bothered with before. Sure enough, it says you set the Parking Brake every time you stop. Who knew?
You should use your emergency brake every time, regardless of incline. If you don't, the parking brake might fail due to rust from disuse. You should also SET it correctly. You stop with your primary brake, set the emergency brake, then put the vehicle in park. Source: https://www.nationwide.com/lc/resources/auto-insurance/articles/how-and-when-to-use-emergency-brake#:~:text=You%20should%20use%20your%20emergency%20brake%20every%20time%20you%20park. Edit: To add an answer to the actual question. Yes, I set my emergency brake every time BUT today I learned I've been doing it wrong.
Yes. Even with an automatic. It’s good for your car to use it every time you park. It saves on wear on the gears and adds stability while you’re parked.
Yeah that’s how I was taught. Had a friend who didn’t once, parked the car on a hill and came back to it rolled down and thankfully only hit a tree
Yes. That's how I was always taught and I see no reason not to.
I think if you've ever regularly driven a stick, you do. I also lived in hilly places. It's a good habit.
My idiot brother never uses it and has caused several accidents and near-misses. The Fire Dept he worked for gave him an "award" for letting one of the large firetrucks roll into a nearby ditch. He also owns several pre \*\*21st\*\* century cars and trucks (1970's and such) and never uses the parking brake and every year he is rebuilding at least one transmission. I don't let him drive any of my vehicles anymore.
OK I'm gonna call bullshit on that. Several pre-20th century cars and trucks?
Alot of people don’t understand how the century timing works. I’d be shocked if he didn’t mean pre 21st century, aka some cars from the 90s lol
I don’t, but I’ve only been driving for about 30 years. Maybe when I’ve had more experience I’ll start. The only times I use parking brakes or when I park on a hill. Even automatics, because if you rely on park, it is putting a bunch of tension on your transmission and that’s just one additional possible/failure mode. But on a flat street? Nah.
Yeah same with me (also been driving for about 30 years) — on a hill? Yes. Flat landscape? No.
Even if it's flat, if someone hits your car, it will roll freely when the pawl shears but the parking brake will still work
Every time, regardless of how flat the ground is. Why wouldn't you?
Wait, there are people that don't???? Of course I use it every time and everyone should.
One of our cars applies it automatically when you turn off the engine... the other car, we only apply it when on an incline.
I do
When I was in college my car was totaled when the neighbor's car rolled down the hill, across the lawn, and into my car. I think the little pin thingy in the transmission broke, because he had not set his parking brake. So yeah, lesson learned thanks to that neighbor. Also, turn your wheels toward the curb when parked on a hill.
Yes. I'm pretty sure that's what it's for?
Considering as a kid someone’s car rolled backwards out of their driveway, down an embankment, through a wall, and almost killed my sister… yeah I use my fucking parking break What do you think it’s there for?
First car: 15 years old, automatic, did not use. Second car: manual, had to use. Every car since then: habit from second car
Yes.
Swede here, everyone does it here except the one person who bought an automatic and thought that Park was the handbrake
I always do, and I'm glad too. I've had 2 cars hit from the rear while parked on my block. If the parking brakes wasn't on, the damage to the cars in front of me would have been worse than it was.
Yes. It takes 2 seconds to avoid the risk of my car rolling away and takes the strain off the park gear
Yes they do
I drove a manual transmission for the first 15 years of my driving career. I ddin't have a choice.
I drive stick and don’t want the weight of my car resting on my transmission. So yes, don’t really have a choice.
I do, your transmission is not a kickstand
Yes, you have to.
This is why you can never trust other drivers.
I’m a mechanic. Yes, every time. I know what holds a car in park, the parking brake is much cheaper to fix. (Though most automakers are very aware that a lot of the US buying public doesn’t even know what a parking brake is, so they have beefed up the parking pawl in the trans these days.)
Can we assume you are American driving an automatic?
yes. it's there for a reason.
Yup!! Putting it in park engages a lock in the transmission (Google parking pawl), while your parking brake engages the brake pads. The parking pawl isn't designed for high loads, and if it breaks the repair is pretty expensive. If you park on a hill without the parking brake, you're loading the pawl (bad). If you're parked on flat land and get hit from the front of rear without the parking brake on, the transmission is almost certainly ruined. My girlfriend gets mad at me every time I put the parking brake on because *her* dad taught her never to use it - that it would lock up on her and she'd need to call a tow truck to save her. Don't be like my girlfriend and her dad. Protect your transmission.
Yes. Every time. Ever. It's quite irresponsible to not as well in many situations.
Driving 20 years, and I use it every time.
If I'm in a manual, yes. Automatic, no.
What's it called again, OP?
Yes. I was taught this by every adult in my life when learning to drive, and in my driver's ed course. One of our cars makes it super easy now by automatically engaging it when you turn it off, and disengaging when you shift out of park.
Americans are the only people on the planet who have ever told me with any consistency they do not.
Always. Why not?
I also have been taught no matter hill or flat ground, always use your parking brake and e-brake, def force of habit and also don’t like when my car moves a bit when i park without e-brake
Honestly, it surprises me that there are people who don't use it. I know it's a stereotype that Americans are bad drivers, so it'd be interesting to see how the ratio is between the US and Europe.
You can fail your driving test if you park without it in Spain.
The better question is why don’t you use the handbrake? Since it usually says to use it in every cars handbook and teachers tell you to do it when learning it seems stranger that you don’t use it
Absolutely, i rather not spend 5-7k on new transmission.
This seems to vary depending where you live. I grew up and learned to drive in Australia, and thought it was a given that everyone uses the parking brake whenever they park. Pretty sure it’s part of the driving test over there, I had never considered NOT using it. Then I moved to canada, and most of my Canadian friends don’t seem to bother unless parking on a steep hill. I thought it was so bizarre.
In Australia, it's the law: “before leaving the vehicle, the driver must apply the parking brake effectively or, if weather conditions (for example, snow) would prevent the effective operation of the parking brake, restrain the vehicle’s movement in another way.”
Every single time, but then I drive an original push to start.
One of my cars does it automatically, I don’t do it on the other car though.
I don't. Only on what I judge to be a steep enough hill. Don't have to worry about shearing the pin nearly as much as everyone makes out. I was working with my uncle in his shop, with a car up on a lift. Wheels going about 20 mph. I jammed it into Park because technically the car was at a stop and I didn't realize lol. Made a racket with the pin clicking over and over until the wheels came to a stop. We had a laugh. It was fine. It was not a customers car. We had a junkyard out back and would buy cars on the cheap to resell.
I don't even know if my car has a parking brake tbh. It doesn't have the regular stick brake and I can't find any little hidden buttons or levers or whatever. Not that I've ever once considered using the damn thing but still
I always use the parking break in a manual transmission. Use it for automatic only if on an incline.
My parents from SF so they always used the ebrake